Hanfstaengl, Franz Seraph

Franz Seraph Hanfstaengl (1804–1877) was a Bavarian painter, lithographer, and pioneering photographer who became court photographer to the Royal Court of Bavaria. Born on March 1, 1804, in Baiernrain near Bad Tölz, Hanfstaengl initially pursued painting before recognizing the commercial and artistic potential of lithography and photography. His entrepreneurial spirit and technical innovation established him as one of the most important figures in 19th-century German visual culture. In 1833, Hanfstaengl founded a lithographic establishment in Munich, which he operated until 1868. He quickly gained popularity as a portrait lithographer, earning the affectionate nickname "Count Litho" for his work depicting Munich society. The quality and success of his lithographic portraits led to commissions from Bavaria's social elite and established his reputation for technical excellence and artistic sensitivity. In 1852, Hanfstaengl opened an "artistic-photographic" studio in Munich in partnership with painter Moritz Lotze, recognizing photography's revolutionary potential. His groundbreaking work in negative retouching—for which he won a gold medal at the 1855 Paris World's Fair—earned him recognition as the inventor of this crucial photographic technique. As court photographer, he created portraits of distinguished figures including King Ludwig II of Bavaria, Franz Liszt, Otto von Bismarck, and Empress Elisabeth of Austria. His combination of artistic training and photographic innovation elevated portrait photography to new levels of refinement. In 1868, he transferred his thriving business to his son Edgar, who built upon his father's success to create the renowned Hanfstaengl art publishing company. Franz Seraph Hanfstaengl died on April 18, 1877, in Munich.